The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today took steps to speed up construction of a long-delayed train station at the World Trade Center.
The Port Authority will pay the Tishman and Turner construction companies of New York $105 million to provide more efficient construction management at the site, officials say.

The agency hopes the move will help the Port Authority complete the $3.2 billion transit hub for PATH rail service by 2014 -- and potentially allay concerns voiced recently by the site's developer, Larry Silverstein, that the project is moving too slowly.

EPADeveloper Larry Silverstein

Earlier this month, Silverstein accused the authority of violating its development agreement at Ground Zero, saying it is behind schedule. Silverstein claims the bi-state agency is years behind in completing the transit hub.

Chris Ward, the Port Authority's executive director, said the moves have helped speed up construction at a transit hub that has already cost around $1 billion after three years of construction.

"If you're down there, you can see that this site is transforming itself on a daily basis," Ward said at the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners meeting.

Tishman and Turner will replace services provided by Phoenix Constructors, formerly the general contractor and construction manager of the project. Port Authority officials, who were concerned that Phoenix was moving too slowly and charging too much money, dumped the contractor in April.

The Port Authority will only allow Phoenix to finish projects it's already started, such as building a tunnel on under West Street and constructing an east-west connector for rail riders at the site.